The 34th Annual F-100 Supernationals

If you are a fan of cool classic trucks, there’s an event you need to add to your “can’t miss” list. For the last 34 years, the F-100 Supernationals has been attracting Ford pickup fans from around the country for a great weekend’s worth of fun. Held in Tennessee’s scenic mountain resort town of Pigeon Forge, this year’s event brought more than 700 vehicles together for the Thursday through Saturday get-together.

2/37With acres of display space, the Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, Municipal Parking Lot was the perfect location for this year’s event. More than 700 vehicles were on hand along with 140 vendors offering everything imaginable for your truck.

One of the highlights of the opening ceremonies was show promoter Charlie Cobble’s introduction of almost a dozen vehicles making their debut at the show. All the midnight oil and barked knuckles were forgotten when the smiling builders heard the applause of the crowd. While the debuting vehicles were exciting, it was the huge collection of trucks on display at Pigeon Forge’s Municipal Parking Lot that soon became the center of the weekend activity.

Enjoying everything from meticulously restored originals to radical customs and almost everything in between, spectators wandered the rows finding something new at every turn. The facility, in addition to providing display space for the gathering of Ford-powered vehicles, had parking space for spectators along with room for dozens of major manufacturers, swap meet vendors, and food vendors, along with the River Walk, a cool, tree-shaded path running alongside the event site.

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Throughout the weekend, the “voice” of the F-100 Supernationals, TV personality Sam Memmolo provided nonstop entertainment, filling the air with ’50s music, kidding with the crowd, and humorously harassing any of his close friends as they ventured past his DJ stand. Show promoter Charlie Cobble was everywhere as usual, solving problems, magically finding that last parking space, working to ensure that everyone had a great weekend experience, and handling the awards ceremony.

4/37After the original disc jockey suffered an injury the day before the show, Sam Memmolo, TV star and the “voice” of the F-100 Supernationals, along with show promoter Charlie Cobble, commandeered this beautiful Ford stake bed truck, converting it to a DJ booth for the weekend.

The F-100 event is known for its huge selection of significant door prizes. Cole Fisher was certainly happy to hear his name called as the winner of the Dan Carpenter bed giveaway – and they are given away at a rapid pace prior to the award ceremony. In addition to the 5-foot-tall class win trophies, the judging team selected a pair of winners for the top awards. Receiving a 6-foot trophy for the entry with the most overall points of any vehicle at the show was Joel Smith from Knoxville, Tennessee. His immaculate metallic green 1935 Ford wrecker was equipped with a modern 302ci V-8 and every inch detailed, with even the heavy-duty hook on the back sporting chromed chains.

Capturing the Pat Ford Truck of the Year Award was the equally spectacular 1953 Ford of Art and Ann Walters from Bumpass, Virginia. Art and builder Eric Smith worked four years to create the highly modified Ford, sporting a 504ci V-8, custom interior, polished bed, and striking PPG Brandywine and Sunset Orange paint. The amazing Ford captured the Classic Trucks Editor’s Choice trophy as well. Several folks were inducted into the F-100 Hall of Fame during the ceremony and other good friends no longer with us were remembered for their accomplishments throughout the years.

5/37Thousands of drivers and spectators enjoyed this year’s event, anxious to see the dozen new trucks debuting at the event.

If you’d like to be part of this automotive family event that showcases some of the finest vintage Fords in the country, put the 2013 F-100 Supernationals on your calendar. Get all the details for next year’s show and see shots of this year’s event at www.f100supernationals.com. Special thanks to LMC Trucks for their help in making the event the success that it was.